Can closing machine with can head space exhausting and sustaining devices



Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. DOUDERA, JR 2,692,715

CAN CLOSING MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAUSTING AND SUSTAINING DEVICES 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 1949 INVENTOR. JOHN J 0000A JE.

rofavs a Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. DOUDERA, JR ,7

CAN CLOSING MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAUSTING AND SUSTAINING DEVICES Filed May 24, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

im/HM Dan/zy- A TTOE/V Y-S JOHN J DOUDEEA JE'.

Oct. 26, 1954 .1. .1. DOUDERA, JR 2,692,715

CAN CLOSING MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAUSTING AND SUSTAINING DEVICES Filed May 24, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

\ JOHN J'. DOUDEEA JP.

LZM m2 JAM w A T TOENEYS' Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. DOUDERA, JR 2,692,7115

CAN CLOSING MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAUSTING AND SUSTAINING DEVICES 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 24, 1949 1Z4 2 9' W 5 Hz 7% 129 125, 1%;

J00 111 1mm I M 11? 101/ IN VEN TOR. JOHN J: DOUDEE/fi 7E KZM HM & ATTORNEY? Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. DOUDERA, JR 2,692,715

CAN CLOS MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAU NG AND SUSTAINING DEVICES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed May 24, 1949 INVENTOR. JOHN J. DOUDE/PA J/e.

BLZM 54 M ATTORNEYS Oct. 26, 1954 J. J. DOUDERA, JR 2,692,715

CAN CLOSING MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAUSTING AND SUSTAINING DEVICES 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed May 24, 1949 I I IV .R A HZ WW JM N m 2 Y B ATTOKWEY Patented Oct. 26, 1 954 CAN CLOSING MACHINE WITH CAN HEAD SPACE EXHAUSTING DEVICES AND SUSTAINING John J. Doudera, Jr., Berwyn, Il1., assignor to American Can Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application May 24, 1949, Serial No. 95,094

21 Claims.

The present invention relates to container or can closing machines of the type which displaces air from the head of the containers or cans prior to their being sealed and has particular reference to improved devices utilizing a gaseous medium for protecting the air free head space and the adjacent region against the entrance of air thereinto during the interval between the displacement of the air from the head space and the sealing of the can. This is an improvement over the can closing machine disclosed in United States Patent 2,322,250, issued June 22, 19 13, to J. H. Murch.

In some types of can closing machines used in the food packing industry, a closed vacuumizing chamber is dispensed with and in its place the air in the head spaces of the cans to be closed is displaced by jets of a gaseous medium which are injected into the head spaces while the cans are traveling through the machine and exposed to the outside atmosphere. It has been found that in such machines, even with the benefit of the devices disclosed in the prior art patents, outside air impinging against the leading or foremost side of the cans as they travel rapidly through the machine, is aspirated or syphoned over the edge of the cans and into the head space to disturb or pollute the all free condition thereof.

An object of the invention is to remedy the above mentioned condition by the provision, in a can closing machine of this type, of devices where in the upper end of a can to be closed is enveloped in a gaseous medium in such a manner as to prevent any entranc of outside air into the air free head space during the interval between the displacement of the air from the head space and the closing of the can.

Another object is the provision of devices in such a machine wherein curtains of a gaseous medium are directed against the can to be closed, in such a manner as to concentrate the medium at places adjacent the can head space where the greatest protection will be obtained.

Another object is the provision of devices in such a machine wherein the air is displaced from around a cover and the space between the cover and a container on which it is superposed, as well as the head space of the container, the airexhausted condition of these areas being maintained until the cover is sealed on the container.

Another object is the provision of such devices wherein exceedingly high efiiciency is readily obtained so that cans having severely dented flanges and because of this are dificult to hold an air free condition in their head spaces, are as readily operated upon as cans without dented flanges.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a can closing machine embodying the instant invention, with parts broken away;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along the broken line 22 in Figure 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along the line 3-3 in Fig. 1, with parts broken away and with a can and cover partially shown in section in place in the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3, the view being drawn at a reduced scale and with parts broken away;

Figs. 5 and 6 are fragmentary views similar to Fig. 3 and disclosing a portion of the machine at the left in Fig. 3, the views showing how the can picks up the cover during the cycle of operation of the machine;

Figs. '7 and 8 are enlarged fragmentary top and bottom views of one of a plurality of component parts which make up a turret shown at the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of another part of the turret shown at the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Ill-I0 in Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 9 and showing the bottom of the same part;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line l2--l2 in Fig. 10, with parts broken away;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary top view of a third part of the turret shown at the left in Fig. 1;

Fig. 14 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line |4-l4 in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 15-15 in Fig. 14, with parts broken away;

Fig. 16 is an enlarged edge view of the turret shown at the right in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 17 is an enlarged edge view of the turret 3 shown at the left in Fig. 1, with parts broken away;

Fig. 18 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective sectional view of a portion of the turret shown at the left in Fig. 1, with parts omitted;

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line Iii-l9 in Fig. 16;

Fig. 20 is a perspective View of the upper end of a can showing a dented flange; and

Fig. 21 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along a plane indicated by the lines Zi2i in Fig. 20 and showing a cover in place on the can.

As a preferred or exemplary embodiment of the instant invention the drawings illustrate the principal parts of a can closing machine of the type disclosed in United States Patent 1,601,910, issued October 5, 1926, to P. W. Fleischer et al. on Multispindle Double Seamer, in which can covers or end members A (Fig. 3) are united to filled cans B having a head space 0, preferably by an interfolding of flange parts provided on both can and cover to provide a hermetic double seam or uniting joint.

In the instant machine, the covers A and the cans B are fed into an air displacing or exhausting head D (see also Figs. 1 and 2) of a rotating transfer turret or advancing means E Where the cover A is held in superposed and spaced relation to the can 13 while both can and cover are advanced along a curved path of travel. The rotating transfer turret slides the can over a stationary support plate F and propels it and the cover toward a rotating closing turret G of a can closing or sealing mechanism H. During this travel, the cover is retained in the exhausting head D and is partly supported by a curved guide rail J which is disposed adjacent the path of travel of the cover.

During the latter portion of the curved path of travel of the can and its cover and while still retained in the transfer turret E, the head space C (Fig. 3) of the can B and the under surface of the cover A are exhausted or swept free of air by a blast of a gaseous medium ejected from the exhausing head D. The gaseous medium may be any suitable gas including steam, wet steam, saturated or dry steam, superheated steam, inert gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, nitrous oxide, etc. Simultaneously with this displacement of air from the head space C, a curtain of gaseous medium preferably steam, is ejected from the exhausting head D in advance of the can adjacent its top edge to prevent outside air from being aspirated, syphoned or driven into the air free head space.

In this condition the can as it approaches the closing turret G is positioned on a vertically movable lifter pad K disposed under and moving with the closing turret and simultaneously with this positioning of the can, the can and the cover are received in an exhausting and sustaining head L (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) carried in the closing turret G. A gaseous medium such as those mentioned above is ejected from the exhausting and sustaining head L in a plurality of directions and fully envelopes the upper end of the can and the cover in cooperation with the exhausting head D for displacing the air from the head space C and to exclude all outside air and thereby sustain or retain the air free condition of the head space C of the can and the space between the can and the cover. If desired the exhausting and sustaining head L may be used alone without the ear-- hausting head D with favorable results.

As soon as a major portion of the positioned can is fully supported on the lifter pad K, the pad moves the can upwardly toward the cover through the envelope of gaseous medium, until the can comes into contact with the cover and immediately without stopping continues its upward travel to raise the cover, now resting on the top of the can, into a suitable closing or seaming head M of the closing mechanism H. The closing head M rotates around the can B and its superimposed cover A and thereby unites the cover to the can as the can and cover are ad vanced by the closing turret G. Upon completion of this closing operation, the lifter pad K lowers the sealed can to its original level and it is thereupon discharged from the machine to any suitable place of deposit.

There preferably are a plurality of the ex hausting heads D spaced around the outer periphcry of the transfer turret E and secured in spaced recesses 3! (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) formed in the turret. These heads are disposed in vertical alignment with spaced can propelling pockets 32 formed in the outer periphery of the turret. The turret is carried on a sleeve 33 which surrounds a vertical stationary column 3 5 of the machine. The turret is rotated by a gear 35 which meshes with a gear 36 carried on a vertically disposed driving shaft 3? which may be rotated in any suitable manner, as through a clutch mechanism, such as shown in the above mentioned Fleischer patent. The driving shaft 31 also carries the closing turret G and the lifter pads K. Hence the closing turret G, the lifter pads K and the transfer turret E rotate in unison.

Each exhausting head D preferably is made in two parts, an upper section t! (Figs. 1, 2, 3, 16 and 19) and a lower section 32 (see also Fig. l) which are pinned together to form a unit head. The upper section 41 is formed with a curved half mold seat or support ledge t3 for receiving a cover A from a conventional cover feeding device M (Fig. 1) and for supporting the cover in a horizontal position as it is advanced by the transfer turret E. This support ledge s3 is just wide enough to engage the curled edge of the cover as best shown in Fig. 3 so as to leave the adjoining recess in the cover free and exposed.

In a similar manner the lower section 52 is formed with a curved half mold pocket 35 (Fig. 3) which is in vertical alignment with the associated can pocket 32 in the transfer turret E for cooperation with the pocket 32 in advancing a can B. The curved face of the pocket engages the outer curved surface of the can. Immediately above the pocket #5, the lower 'section 42 of the exhausting head tapers upwardly and inwardly, terminating in a vertical shoulder 48 disposed in vertical alignment with the outer face of the seat 43 and setting off a recess at around and just below the flange of the can B.

As the can B and its cover A in vertically spaced relation are advanced by the transfer turret E toward the closing turret G, the gaseous medium for displacing the air in the'can head space C and the space between the can and the cover and for preventing entrance of outside air into these spaces, is ejected from the exhausting head D. For this purpose the adjoining faces of the two sections 4!, 42 of the head are formed with'matching taperedthroats'or chamber 51 (Figs. 3 and 19) which at their inner ends communicate with a channel 52 formed in the transfer turret E. As

the turret rotates, the channel .52 for each exhausting head D is brought into register with a curved groove 53 formed in a stationary plate 54 resting on top of the turret and secured to the stationary column 34. An inlet pipe 55 secured in the plate in communication with the groove admits the gaseous medium into the head throats from any suitable source of supply under pressure.

The outer ends of the throats 5| spread outwardly toward the cover seat 43 and the can flange recess 49. Adjacent the seat 48 the outer face of the head section 4! is formed with a horizontal slot 51 which communicates with the throats 5| and which extends for nearly the full length of the curved face of the section. Vertically, this slot 51 is defined by a short skirt 58 which depends from the roof of the throat in the upper head section. At spaced intervals along the curved face of the upper head section 4|, a plurality of vertical slots 58 communicate with the throats 51. In the lower head section 42 a plurality of vertical slots 6| preferably staggered in relation to the upper slots 59, extend through the shoulder 48 and communicate with the throats 5|. If desired a skirt similar to the short skirt 58 may be formed in this lower section for use with or without the upper skirt 58.

Hence when the channel 52 in the rotating transfer turret E moves into register with the stationary groove 53, the gaseous medium under pressure is ejected from the horizontal slot 51 and vertical slots 58 and GI into the space between the can and cover and thereby sweeps out and displaces the air from this region and from the head space C in the can. The depending skirt 58 on the upper head section 4| is disposed adjacent the outer edge of the can flange when the can is in its pocket and this skirt deflects the gaseous medium downwardly into the can head space C to facilitate displacement of the air therefrom. The gaseous medium ejected from the slots 8! in the lower head section 42 fills the recess 49 around the can just below its flange and escapes downwardly and forwardly around the flange and thus envelops the upper end of the can in the gaseous medium.

In order to protect the exhausted head space C from the surrounding outside air as mentioned hereinbefore, a pair of curtains of the gaseous medium is projected against the leading side of the advancing can. For this purpose the upper head section 4| (Figs. 16 and 19) adjacent the leading end of its curved outer face is formed with a pair of spaced and parallel slots comprising an inner slot 65 and an outer slot 66 both of which communicate with the throats 5|. The outer slot 68 is disposed at one terminal end of the horizontal slot 51. In a similar manner the lower head. section 42 is formed with an outer slot 61 (Fig. 16 which is in vertical alignment with the outer slot 56 and with an adjacent wide downwardly and outwardly tapered recess 88 (Fig. which is disposed directly below the inner slot 65 of the upper head section.

Gaseous medium escaping from these slots 65, 68, 61 and recess 68 and the intervening end portion of the horizontal slot 51 impinges against the leading side of the can and cover at a point of tangency thereto, th inner slot 65 and cooperating recess 88 forming a curtain of gaseous medium which follows around the can and the cover, clinging to their outside surfaces adjacent the can flange and cover curl and extending across the space between the cover and the can flange to exclude the outside air from the exhausted head space C in the can and the space between the can and the cover. Since some of this gaseous medium may be syphoned over the can edge into the head space C, the slots 86, 61 eject a second curtain of the gaseous medium in parallelism with the first and thereby protects the first curtain against intermixture with the outside surrounding air. In this manner the air is displaced from the head space C and the head space is maintained in this air free condition while the can and its cover are advanced into position in the closing turret G.

During this air exhausting operation on the head space C, the exhausting and sustaining head L in the closing turret G moves into position around the can and cover and ejects gaseous medium from various angles to cooperate with the exhausting head D in displacing the air from the head space C and to shield and maintain the exhausted condition of this head space. There are a plurality of the exhausting and sustaining heads L and preferably they are formed integrally with a series of three aligned rings, a top ring 72 (Figs. 3, '7, 9 and 13), an intermediate ring 13 and a bottom ring l4, assembled on top of each other around the closing turret G and bolted to each other and to an annular support flange 15 formed on the turret. The portions of the rings that comprise the exhausting and sustaining heads L include half mold pockets that surround substantially half of the can B with its spaced and superimposed cover A, as the can is positioned on the lifter pad K.

The portion of the exhausting and sustaining head L located in the bottom ring I4 (Figs. 3, 13, 14, 15) is formed with a can pocket '88 which partially surrounds the can B as the latter moves into position on the lifter pad K. Above this pocket, the ring is formed with an inwardly set vertical shoulder 19 which extends around the can flange and which projects slightly above the flange when the can is in its initial position on the lifter pad. Inwardly of the shoulder 79 the ring is formed with a crescent shaped throat 8| (see Figs. 3 and 15) for the reception and passage of the gaseous medium. There is one of these throats for each exhausting and sustaining head L.

Each throat 8| communicates with an adjacently disposed feeder channel 82 (see also Fig. 18) formed in the closing turret G. Screens 83, 84 disposed in each channel adjacent its outlet and its inlet ends serve as bafiie plates to distribute the incoming gaseous medium through the channel and the throat 8| of the exhausting and sustaining head. The inlet ends of the feeder channels 82 are disposed adjacent a stationary annulus 88 which surrounds the lower end of the closing turret G and is supported on a flange 81. This annulus preferably is made in two parts, bolted together as shown in Fig. 4, for easy assembly. The portion of the annulus nearest the transfer turret E is hollow and is formed with an inlet stem 88 (Figs. 1 and 4) which extends under and is secured to the guide rail J to hold the annulus stationary and is fitted with an inlet pipe 89 which leads from any suitable source of the gaseous medium under pressure. The top of the hollow portion of the annulus is provided with a curved slot 9| which communicates with the interior of the annulus and which extends for nearly the full length of one-half of the annulus.

Hence as the closing turret G rotates, it carries the exhausting and sustaining heads L succes sively into communication with the slot 9| in the stationary annulus 86 and thereby permits the gaseous medium to flow through the screens 83, 84 in the channels or chambers 82 and enter the throats 81 of the bottom ring M. This flow of gaseous medium continues for each exhausting and sustaining head L while the head travels with the closing turret G through substantially one-half a revolution of the turret, during which time the head approaches a can and cover in the transfer turret E, picks up the can and cover and carries it through at least the first operation of uniting or seaming the cover into the can.

During this cycle of operation the gaseous medium in the throat 8% is ejected into the head space C of the can through a plurality of vertical slots 9i (Figs. 3, 4, 13 and 14) which are formed in the shoulder 19 in the pocket '18 of the bottom ring M. The gaseous medium ejected from these slots co-operate with the similar slots El in the exhausting heads D in the transfer turret E to free or displace the air from the head space C of the can and the space between the can and the cover. Thus as the can comes into position on the lifter pad K, its head space C and the space between the can and the cover is being swept free of air from two sets of slots in two heads and in opposite directions.

Simultaneously with this sweeping of the head space and the cover space, gaseous medium is ejected from two other sources against the side of the can, the edge of the cover and the cover space, in advance of their path of travel and also around these parts. This is effected by gaseous medium ejected from two pairs of spaced and parallel slots Q5, 9% (Figs. 4 and 13) formed one pair each in the leading and the following edges of the shoulder l9 and communicating with the throat 8|. The slots 95 eject two curtains of gaseous medium similar to that ejected by the slot 58 in the exhausting head D, against opposite (leading and following) sides of the can adjacent its flange to prevent the outside air from entering over the edge of the moving can and into its exhausted head space. I'he slots 95 eject two protective curtains of the gaseous medium, one located in advance of and the'other following the first mentioned curtains to prevent mixture of air with the gaseous medium of these first mentioned curtains.

In a similar manner outside air is prevented from leaking upwardly under the can flange and through the curtains of gaseous medium by a curtain of the gaseous medium which is ejected from a curved narrow slot 91 (FigsB, 14, 15 and 17) formed in the can pocket 18 in the bottom ring M. This slot extends nearly half way around the can as best shown in Fig. 15 and is open at the outer edges of the ring so that the gaseous medium will be ejected entirely around the can just under its flange as well as being directed vertically in both directions.

Reference should now be had to the -interme diate ring '73 shown in Figs. 3, 9, 10, ll, 12 and 17. This ring rests tightly on top of the bottom ring M and is formed with a horizontal groove Hill which extends entirely around the ring for clearance of the guide rail J (see Fig. 1). At spaced intervals around its periphery, the intermediate ring '53 like the bottom ring '14 is formed with a half mold pocket H)! which is in vertical alignment with the can pockets 78. However, the pockets Ill! are slightly larger to accommodate a cover A. The ring, adjacent the bottom of a pocket Nil, is formed with an outwardly projecting ledge )2 on which the outer edge of the cover is supported. This ledge is formed with a curved depending skirt Hi3 disposed in vertical alignment with the outer face of the shoulder it in the bottom ring it to clear the flange of the can disposed below the cover.

The depending skirt [d3 terminates in spaced relation to the top of the shoulder l9 and provides an arcuate slot 184 which communicates with the throat Si in the bottom ring 14 and a similar co-operating throat in the bottom of the ring '13 for the purpose of directing the gaseous medium into the head space C of the can at a downward angle thereto. This skirt is also provided with a plurality of upwardly inclined slots which eject the gaseous medium from the throat ti of the bottom ring M, upwardly at an angle against the bottom of the cover A and into its outer curled edge to sweep out or displace all air from under the cover and in the space between the cover and the can.

The depending skirt Hi3, adjacent its leading edge is also formed with a pair of spaced and parallel slots H31, H38 (Figs. 11 and 17) which align with the slots 95, 96 in the bottom member "M to co-operate with the slots 95, 96 in ejecting the protective curtains of gaseous medium in advance of the can, the cover and the intervening space to prevent entrance of air into the can head space C and cover space as hereinbefore mentioned.

Above the cover supporting ledge m2, and adjacent the guide rail clearance slot use the intermediate ring it is formed with a plurality of ports iii (Figs. 3 and 12) which communicate with a throat i i2 formed in the ring at and which communicates with the feeder channel $2 to receive the gaseous medium therefrom. The inlet end of the throat H2 is provided with a screen or baille plate H3 to distribute the gaseous me dium to all parts of the throat. The gaseous medium received in the throat i 52 is ejected from the ports l i I along radial lines traveling horizontally across the top of the cover A and thus sweeps away or displaces all air from and around the top of the cover.

Around the edge of the cover, the air displaced by a plurality of vertically disposed ports H6 (Figs. 11 and 12) formed in the ring it adjacent the cover supporting ledge 892. These ports communicate with and receive gaseous medium from the throat 8! in the bottom ring ill and eject this gaseous medium upwardly into the guide rail clearance slot mil to exclude the air therefrom. Thus the entire top end of the can B and the entire region around the cover A are enveloped in a cloud of the gaseous medium to prevent the leakage of air thereinto and to thus sustain the exhausted condition of the head space C.

While the can and cover are enveloped in this cloud of gaseous medium and as soon as a major portion of the can is positioned on and is supported by the lifter pad K, the lifter pad raises the .can upwardly into engagement with the cover as best shown in Fig. 5 and without stopping continues to rise and lift its now seated cover up into the closing or seaming head M as hereinbefore mentioned and as best shown in Fig. 6. During this upward travel of the can and its fully superposed cover, the upper end of the can and the cover are maintained in the cloud of the gaseous material. This is brought about by the top ring 12 which will now be explained.

The top ring I2 rests tightly on top of the intermediate ring '13 and like this intermediate ring is formed with a plurality of pockets I2I (Figs. 1, '7, 8 and 17) which align with the pockets I ill in the intermediate ring I3 to permit raising of the can and cover into the seaming head M. Each pocket I2I adjacent its upper end is formed with an inwardly beveled face I22 which extends the entire curved length of the pocket. This beveled face is provided with a plurality of rows of staggered ports I23 which extend at an angle to the normal, into a throat I24 formed in the bottom of the ring I2. This throat aligns with and communicates with the throat I I2 in the intermediate ring I3 and feeds the gaseous medium to the ports I23. Jets of the gaseous medium ejected from these ports along the length of the pocket I2 I, impinge against the can and the cover at an upward angle thereto as the can and cover rise into the seaming head M and continue to keep these parts enveloped in a cloud of the gaseous medium.

These angularly projected jets of the gaseous medium are effective in impinging against the under side of the cover and the flange of the can where the cover is seated on the can flange and hence prevents the entrance of air through this vital place. These jets are of particular value in protecting cans having a dent in their flange such as the dent P shown in Figs. 20 and 21. In such cans a direct opening into the can head space C results and hence considerable difficulty is usually experienced in maintaining the head space free of air. This difficulty is overcome by the use of the angularly disposed jets of the gaseous medium.

Curtains of the gaseous medium are also projected against the rising can and its cover along both the front and rear sides of these parts to extend protection entirely around the can and cover. These curtains are projected from a pair of upwardly sloping slots I26, I21 (Figs. 8 and 17) which are formed in the pocket I21 adjacent its outer ends. The curtains engage the can tangentially and at an upward angle thereto and curve around and cling to the outer surface of the can and sweep upwardly under the can flange and cover and thus envelop in the gaseous medium the portions of the can and cover which extend outwardly beyond the pocket IZI as the can and cover leave the transfer turret E and advance with the closing turret G.

This protection of the can and cover is further extended by jets of the gaseous medium which are ejected from a series of vertically disposed ports I 29 (Figs. 3 and 7) formed in the top of the ring I2 adjacent the beveled surface I22. These ports communicate with the throat I24 in the top ring I2. The jets of the gaseous medium are projected upwardly against the bottom of the seaming head M (see Fig. 3). The space between this head and the top ring I2 is just sufiicient to allow for minimum clearance. Hence as the ejected gaseous medium impinges against the bottom of the head, it spreads out laterally and fills the space between the head and the ring I2. Most of this gaseous medium spreads toward the can and cover and moves upwardly along the outside surface of the can to supplement the envelopment of the upper end of the can and its cover.

This cloud of gaseous medium is maintained around the upper end of the can as it advances with the closing turret G and simultaneously rises up into the seaming head M until at least the first seaming operation is partially completed, i. e. until the flanges of the can and the cover are at least partially interfolded to hold the cover tight on the can and to provide a hermetic seal. In the instant seaming head this seaming operation is effected by a plurality of seaming rolls I3I (Fig. 3) some of which are first operation rolls and some second operation rolls as in a conventional seaming head, such as shown in the above mentioned Fleischer patent. As this first seaming operation nears completion, the inlet end of the feeder channel 82 (Fig. 3) passes out of register with the slot BI in the stationary annulus 86 and thus: cuts off the flow of the gaseous medium into and through the exhausting and sustaining head L just described. Thereafter the partially united can and cover advance with the closing turret G through the second or final closing operation and are discharged fully sealed to any suitable place of deposit as described in the Fleischer patent herein mentioned.

It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope or" the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, exhausting means movable with said advancing devices for exhausting the air from an advancing con tainer, means for feeding a container cover into superposed position relative to said container, and curtain forming means also movable with said advancing devices for directing a curtain of gas around said moving container adjacent its top edge and around and across the top of said superposed cover for protecting the container against reentry of outside air over its top edge and into its air exhausted interior.

2. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, exhausting means movable with said advancing devices for exhausting the air from an advancing container, curtain forming means movable with said advancing devices for directing a curtain of gas against said advancing container and adjacent its top edge for protecting the container against the reentry of outside air over its top edge and into its air exhausted interior, and auxiliary curtain forming means disposed adjacent said first mentioned curtain forming devices for directing an auxiliary curtain of gas around said first mentioned curtain for protecting said first mentioned curtain against pollution by the outside air.

3. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container and a superposed spaced cover along a predetermined path of travel, exhausting means operable upon the interior of an advancing container and its cover and upon the space between the container and its cover for displacing the air therefrom, and curtain forming means movable with said advancing devices for directing a curtain of gas around said moving container and around and across the top of its superposed cover and around the space between said cover and container for protecting the exhausted areas of the container and the cover and the space therebetween against the entrance of outside air thereinto.

4. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container and a superposed spaced cover along a predetermined path of travel, exhausting means operable upon the interior of an advancing container and its cover and upon the space between the container and its cover for displacing the air therefrom, curtain forming means movable with said advancing devices for directing a curtain of gas in advance of said moving container and its cover and the space therebetween for protecting the exhausted areas of the container and the cover and the space therebetwe'en against the entrance of outside air thereinto, and auxiliary curtain forming means disposed adjacent and in advance of said first mentioned curtain form ing devices for directing an auxiliary curtain of gas adjacent to and in advance of said first mentioned curtain for protecting said first mentioned curtain against pollution by the outside air.

5. In a container closing machine, the combination of a rotatable turret having a pocket for receiving and advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting head carried on and moving with said turret adjacent said pocket and partially surrounding a container received in said pocket for exhausting the air from said container, and a slotted element formed in said exhausting head adjacent the leading edge of said head for directing a curtain of gas beyond said head and in advance of said moving container and adjacent the top edge of the container to protect the container against the entrance of outside air into its air exhausted interior.

6. In a container closing machine, the combination of a rotatable transfer turret having a pocket for receiving and advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, a rotatable auxiliary transfer turret operable in time with said first mentioned transfer turret and having a pocket for receiving said container from said first mentioned transfer turret and for continuing the advancement of said container, a pair of co-operating exhausting heads carried one on each of said turrets adjacent their respective pockets and collectively surrounding said container during transfer of the container from one of said turrets to the other, means in one of said heads for directing jets of gas from one direction into the container, and means in the other of said heads for directing jets of gas in another direction into the container to displace the air from said container. I

'7. In a container closing machine, the combination of a rotatable transfer turret having a pocket for receiving and advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, a rotatable auxiliary transfer turret operable in time with said first mentioned transfer turret and having a pocket for receiving said container from said first mentioned transfer turret and for continuing the advancement of said container, a pair of cooperating exhausting heads carried one on each of said turrets adjacent their respective pockets and collectively surrounding 12 heads for directing a curtain of gas beyond said heads to protect the container against the can trance of outside air into its air exhausted interior.

8. In a container closing machine, the combination of a rotatable transfer turret having a pocket for receiving and advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, a rotatable auxiliary transfer turret operable in time with said first mentioned transfer turret and having a pocket for receiving said container from said first mentioned transfer turret and for continuing the advancement of said container, a pair of co-operating exhausting heads carried one on each of said turrets adjacent their respective pockets and collectively surrounding said container during transfer of the container from one of said turrets to the other, means in said heads for directing jets of gas from difierent directions into the container being transferred to displace the air therefrom, curtain forming means in each of said heads adjacent the leading edges thereof for directing a curtain of gas beyond said head and in advance of said moving container and adjacent the top edge of the container to protect the container against the syphoning of outside air into its air exhausted interior, and curtain formin means in one of said heads adjacent the trailing edge thereof for directing a curtain of gas beyond said head and behind said moving container to protect the container adjacent its trailing side against the entrance of outside air into its air exhausted interior.

9. In a container closing machine, the combination of a rotatable transfer turret having a pocket for receiving and advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, a rotatable auxiliary transfer turret operable in time with said first mentioned transfer turret and having a pocket for receiving said container from said first mentioned transfer turret and for continuing the advancement of said container, a pair of co-operating exhausting heads carried one on each of said turrets adjacent their respective pockets and collectively surrounding said container during transfer of the container from one of said turrets to the other, means in said heads for directing jets of gas from diiferent directions into the container being transferred to displace the air therefrom, and means in said auxiliary transfer turret exhausting head for directing gas in a plurality of directions adjacent the top edge of said container to sustain the exhausted condition of said container.

10. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container along a predetermined path of travel, exhausting means movable with said advancing devices for exhausting the air from an advancing container, curtain forming means also movable with said advancing devices in advance of said moving container for directing a curtain of gasin advance of said moving container and adjacent its top edge for protecting the container against the drawing of outside air over its top edge and into its air exhausted interior, and other curtain forming means located above said exhausting means and movable with said advancing devices for directing a sustaining curtain of gas adjacent the top of said moving container to sustain the air exhausted condition of said container effected by said exhausting means.

11. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container and a superimposed spaced cover along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting head movable with said advancing devices for exhausting the air from an advancing container and its cover and the space therebetween, a support ledge in said exhausting head for holding the cover in superimposed position above the container, and means disposed in said exhausting head and having vertically spaced openings located around the periphery of said cover, some of said openings being below and others above said support ledge for projecting jets of gas upwardly around said cover and horizontally across the top of said cover to envelop said cover in an atmosphere of said gas for protecting the exhausted areas of said container and its cover against the entrance of outside air thereinto.

12. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container and a superimposed spaced cover along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting and sustaining head movable with said advancing devices, means in said head for directing gas into said moving container and around its cover and through the space between the container and the cover to displace the air therefrom, a container sealing mechanism located in said path of travel, assembling means connected with said sealing mechanism for bringing the air exhausted container and cover together, gas sustaining means partially surrounding said assembled container and cover and having angularly disposed openings for projecting gas against the side of the container and upwardly under the cover seated on the container to envelop the cover and the adjacent end of the container in the gas and to maintain the exhausted condition within the container, and closing means in said sealing mechanism for sealing the gas enveloped cover onto the container.

13. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container and a superimposed spaced cover along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting and sustaining head movable with said advancing devices, means in said head for directing gas into said moving container and around its cover and through the space between the container and the cover to displace the air therefrom, lifter means located in said path of travel and engageable beneath said container for bringing the air exhausted container and cover together, a closing head located above said container and cover on said lifter means and movable with said advancing devices for sealing the cover onto the container, ports located in said exhausting and sustaining head at a level between the top of the container and the cover before they are brought together by said lifter means for projecting ga against the side of the container at an angle thereto in the direction of the cover for enveloping the under side of the cover and the adjacent end of the container in said gas, and other ports located in said exhausting and sustaining head below said closing head for projecting gas upwardly against said closing head for distribution laterally toward and away from said cover for excluding the outside air from said cover during the sealing operation.

14. In a container closing machine, the combination of devices for advancing a container and a superimposed spaced cover along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting and sustain ing head movable with said advancing devices,

means in said head for directing gas into said moving container and around its cover and through the space between the container and the cover to displace the air therefrom, lifter means located in said path of travel and engageable beneath said container for bringing the air exhausted container and cover together, a closing head located above said container and cover on said lifter means and movable with said advancing devices for sealing the cover onto the container, ports located in said exhausting and sustaining head at a level between the top of the container and the cover before they are brought together by said lifter means for projecting gas against the side of the container at an angle thereto in the direction of the cover for enveloping the under side of the cover and the adjacent end of the container in said gas, other ports located in said exhausting and sustaining head below said closing head for projecting gas upwardly against said closing head for distribution laterally toward and away from said cover for excluding the outside air from said cover during the sealing operation, and means located in said exhausting and sustaining head above said cover and adjacent the leading and the following edges of the container and cover for directing curtains of gas in advance of and following the moving container and its cover for protecting them against the outside air.

15. In a container closing machine, the combination with a sealing means, of devices for advancing a filled container and a superposed closure in vertically spaced relation along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting head movable with said advancing devices and adapted to receive an advancing container and closure, means in said head substantially in alignment with the space between said container and closure for directing jets of gas into the head space of a received container to displace the air therefrom, auxiliary means in said head comprising a substantially semicircular slot positioned vertically below the top of said container for directing a curtain of gas exteriorly against and around the side of said container for preventing syphoning of air over the edge of the container to protect the already exhausted interior of said container against re-entry of air, and means for uniting said container and said closure in an hermetic seal.

16. In a container closing machine, the combination of means for supporting and advancing a filled container having a head space of air and a superposed container cover along a predetermined path of travel, exhausting means movable with said container and cover advancing means for exhausting the air from said container head space and cover, and separate gas curtain forming means cooperatively positioned in advance of said exhausting means and also movable with said container advancing means for directing a curtain of gas around and in advance of said moving container and cover adjacent their opposed peripheries for protecting the container against re-entry of outside air over the container top edge and into its air exhausted head space.

17. In a container closing machine, the combination of a rotatable turret having a pocket for receiving and advancing a filled container having a head space of air and a superposed cover along a predetermined path of travel, an exhausting head associated with said pocket and movable with said turret for exhausting the air from said container head space and cover and separate gas curtain forming means positioned in advance of said exhausting means in a leading portion of said exhausting head and also movable with said turret for directing a curtain of jetted gas around and in advance of said moving container and cover adjacent their opposed peripheries for protecting the container against re-entry of outside air over the container top edge and into its air exhausted head space.

18. In a machine for sealing filled containers in a substantially air free atmosphere, in combination with a double seaming mechanism, a multiple pocket turret for advancing filled containers and separate closures in timed sequence towards said seaming mechanism, with a filled container and respective closure supported in each pocket in vertically spaced and aligned position, an exhausting head associated with a said pocket, a lifter mechanism associated with a said pocket, means in said head for directing jets of gas laterally across said aligned container and closure to displace the air from the interior of said container when the container is initially supported on said lifter mechanism, auxiliary means in said head cooperating with said jet directing means and positioned vertically above said initially supported container and cover for directing jets of additional gas around the container top and closure as they engage each other and rise on said lifter mechanism towards said seaming mechanism.

19. A composite gas delivery head in apparatus of the character described, said head comprising a lower Wall section and an upper wall section substantially divided by an elongated gas delivery slot, each of said sections having a series of spaced gas delivery slots, arranged at an angle to said elongated slot, the angled slots in one section being staggered relative to the angled slots in the other section, said wall sections conforming in curvature to the curvature of a container received in said head, and a gaseous medium receiving chamber behind said wall sections, said slots eiiective to deliver a gaseous medium under pressure from said chamber into a positioned container to exhaust the air from said container.

20. A composite substantially semicircular gas delivery head in apparatus of the character described, said head comprising a lower wall section and an upper wall section substantially divided by an elongated substantially horizontal gas delivery slot, each of said wall sections having a plurality of spaced inner gas delivery slots arranged at an angle to said elongated slot, the slots in one section being staggered relative to the slots in the other section, and at least one separate auxiliary slot located at the outer ends of said semicircular wall sections, said wall sections conforming in curvature to the curvature of a container received in said head, and a gaseous medium receiving chamber behind said wall sections and in communication with said slots, said inner slots effective to deliver a gaseous medium under pressure from said chamber into a positioned container to exhaust the air from the interior of,

said container, said outer slots effective to deliver said gaseous medium exteriorly against and around the side of said positioned container to prevent air from reentry over the top edge of said container.

21. A composite gas delivery head in combination with a container and closure sealing mechanism located above said head and a container lifter mechanism located below said head, said head having multiple component sections superposed upon each other, all of said sections having a configuration conforming to the shape of a container and a superposed closure fitting into said head and vertically movable through said head, an upper section of said head, initially located above said container and closure, having sets of gas delivery openings at different angles and difierent levels, a gaseous medium receiving chamber within said composite head and in communication with said openings, said openings effective to deliver a gaseous medium under pressure from said chamber against the top of said container and closure as the container and closure are vertically moved toward said sealing mechanism by said lifter mechanism.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,088,012 Rector July 27, 1937 2,131,876 Hurst Oct. 4, 1938 2,240,655 Kronquest May 6, 1941 2,285,867 Minaker June 9, 1942 2,317,470 Marx Apr. 27, 1943 2,322,250 Murch June 22, 1943 2,352,761 Bell July 4, 1944 2,359,671 Pearson Oct. 3, 1944 2,362,841 Minek-ar Nov. 14, 1944 

